" You can't be serious. " He had his claws around my neck and the pressure was exactly at my cartilage. 
" Do you think this is a time for jokes like this Midnight?"
He thrust his other hand right in front of my face, almost pressing on my nose and eyes, screaming onto my face. 
" Do you see these hands? They are still reeking of my father's blood. I am not in the mood for any entertainment. So come straight to the point and tell me why you are here. "
I could see the changed demeanor in Alpha Ryan's eyes. It looked like a maniac, yet he looked like a broken soul. 
" I am sorry to hear what happened here, Alpha Ryan but what I am telling you, is also true. Our Alpha was assassinated and Sherizad had to marry Alpha Tristan to save her tribe. I wonder if she did not meet you before taking that decision."
There was an immediate moment of realisation in his eyes, followed by instant regret. 
" No. No way. She cannot just go get married to anyone because... because... "
This was the moment when Beck stepped in. 
" Please get a hold on yourself Alpha. I think we should visit the Scarlet Pack with our healers and talk about the situation directly. "
We were all packed and loaded within the next few minutes and were riding back to our tribe. 
" Sherizad... "
I came rushing in at the sight of her bend over Tristan's wound with a cloth to stop him from. bleeding out. 
The moment she saw Ryan, her eyes lit up. 
" Ryan... "
She stood up as effortlessly as she used to do every time they saw each other. 
" Ryan, ask your healers to check Tristan immediately. We can't understand this wound on his body. It's not at all healing. " 
She had her hands on Ryan's arm. I saw their eyes talking. And then I saw Sherizad immediately take a step behind. 
Beck cleared his throat as the healers stepped in. Alpha Ryan regained his composure and then we all watched as the healers tried sewing Tristan's wound with thread and needle. 
It was a very lengthy process but thankfully at the end, Tristan's wound had closed and he was no longer bleeding. The healers from our pack took it from there as we walked outside to talk about the nature of the wound that was just treated. 
" He was attacked with something that was laced with dark magic. " said one healer. 
" We had read about it but had no knowledge that it existed in these lands. It's a long lost and forbidden streak. If someone is practicing this, we must immediately search for them and nab them at the bud before flourishing. "
Everybody looked worried. 
" I will hand over the weapons we were able to retrieve from the conspirators. " I added, " Should I hand them over to the healers or... "
Alpha Ryan pushed me aside and walked straight to where the weapon was lying on a piece of cloth. He stared at it. His hands reached forward to grab it when one of the healers intervened . 
" We shouldn't be messing around with objects laved with dark magic. " He grabbed Alpha Ryan's hand and moved it away. After that he slid the weapon into a bag, pulling it by the edge of the cloth with which it was wrapped. 
" How about Tristan. How long will he take to wake up? "
It was Sherizad who stepped forward. 
" We cannot predict anything. I have instructed your healers how to take care of his wound in the mean time, we will try to break down the nature of the spell and try to form an antidote with the help of the ones who practice magic in the outskirts. "
The healer informed her, trying to reassure. 
" Will they be willing to help the likes of us? "
Sherizad asked again. This time, Alpha Ryan held her by her hand. 
" We have our network, Sherizad. Rest assured, we will not leave any stone unturned in our effort to treat your husband. "
The spike in his voice when he uttered the word, " your husband" , was unmistakable. 
The stares they exchanged were so severe that we all decided to leave the scene, one by one. 
But as we were about to leave the room, Sherizad called us back. 
" Stay. Who gave you the permission to leave your king in this state. Midnight, make sure the healers are around him twenty four seven. Keep them well provided and also arrange for guards around this tent. Keep only your best men. I do not want any more trouble, till we are able to understand the nature of our problem. In the meantime, grill everyone who knew the attackers. Be it someone old or a child. I expect nothing else except results. Let me know as soon as you have any lead. "
Her hand was still in Alpha Ryan's grip. 
He waited patiently till she was done giving the orders around. Then he looked up at her with eyes so meek, I would not have believed, had I not seen it first hand. 
" Sherizad, may I ask if you are done with your state affairs? "
He asked with a voice so gentle, it made me , almost gasp. 
Sherizad did not answer. Or was it that she couldn't. 
" If you are done, may I ask for a few moments with you? Alone, please? "
He immediately caught the slightest rays of hesitation , forming on her face. 
He went on his knees , in front of us. 
" I swear I will not cause the slightest tint to your dignity. I know the boundaries that now exist between us. But please Sherizad, I beg you. We need to talk. "
I was so happy at that moment, wishing everything would fall into its rightful place. 
I was so wrong. 
I should have stopped them, then and there. 
But I couldn't. It was such a shame. 
Like I couldn't stop the human Sherry from falling for the Mafia Ryan.